Para Brahman

Para Brahman (Sanskrit:परब्रह्मन्) (IAST: Para Brahman) is the "Highest Brahman" that which is beyond all descriptions and conceptualisations. It is described in Hindu texts as the formless (in the sense that it is devoid of Maya) spirit (soul) that eternally pervades everything, everywhere in the universe and whatever is beyond.[1]

Hindus conceptualize the Para Brahman in diverse ways. In the Advaita Vedanta tradition, Nirguna Brahman (Brahman without qualities) is Para Brahman. In other Vedanta traditions, it is Saguna Brahman (Brahman with qualities). In Vaishnavism,Shaivism and Shaktism,Vishnu, Shiva and Devi respectively, are Para Brahman.[2]

Nirguna Brahman (Devanagari निर्गुण ब्रह्मन्, Nirguṇa Brahman), Brahman without form or qualities,[10] is Para Brahman, the highest Brahman. According to Adi Shankara, Nirguna Brahman is Para Brahman,[11][12] and is a state of complete knowledge of self as being identical with the transcendental Brahman, a state of mental-spiritual enlightenment (Jnana yoga).[13] It contrasts with Saguna Brahman which is a state of loving awareness (Bhakti yoga).[13] Advaita Vedanta non-dualistically holds that Brahman is divine, the Divine is Brahman, and this is identical to that which is Atman (one's soul, innermost self) and nirguna (attribute-less), infinite, love, truth, knowledge, "being-consciousness-bliss".[14]

According to Eliot Deutsch, Nirguna Brahman is a "state of being"[15] in which all dualistic distinctions between one's own soul and Brahman are obliterated and are overcome.[13] In contrast, Saguna Brahman is where the distinctions are harmonized after duality between one's own soul and Brahman has been accepted.[13]

Advaita describes the features of a nondualistic experience,[13] in which a subjective experience also becomes an "object" of knowledge and a phenomenal reality. The Absolute Truth is both subject and object, so there is no qualitative difference:

In Vaishnavism, Vishnu or Krishna (among other incarnations of Vishnu) is considered as Para Brahman.Vishnu in his Mahavishnu form is considered to be the supreme. According to Bhagavat Purana,when Arjuna asked the true reality about Krishna,he revealed his Mahavishnu form showing that he is the supreme form of souls,demons,deities and qualities,namely,Sattva,Rajas and Tamas.

In Shaivism, Shiva is Para Brahman.Parashiva,the supreme form of Lord Shiva,is considered to the Para Brahman.According to mythology, Parashiva is not much significant in Vedas and Upanishads, but it is said that Lord Parashiva is the single incarnation of all souls and deities.He is also depicted as the only Adipurusha or Mahadeva.

In Shaktism, Devi Mahakali, the supreme form of Devi Adi parashakti, is considered to the Para Brahman, ultimate reality, inseparably. According to Devi Suktam in Rigveda she is the womb of all creation. Thus Kali is epithets is Brahmamayi, meaning "She Whose Essence is Brahman". Her eternal abode is Manidvipa.